Lemieux changes plans and will stay in the Great Northwest

The opportunity to play only four hours from home for a nationally ranked program verses moving across the country was too much for OL Shane Lemieux to look past and Saturday night the Yakima, WA tackle moved from an unofficial commitment to USC to an official commitment to Oregon.

“It was just better for my family,” said Lemieux who had given the Gamecocks his unofficial pledge in March after making an unofficial visit. “Traveling away from my mom for college would be hard. Oregon also made it clear that I would compete for a starting spot my freshman year.”

Lemieux's father lives in Lancaster and he had always said his commitment to USC would not become official until he brought his mother out for a visit this summer. That visit won't happen now.

Lemieux said he called USC recruiter Shawn Elliott Saturday night to give him the news but wasn't able to reach him though he did send him a text. “I really respect him and the whole program,” Lemieux said. “I just didn't want to move away from my mom. South Carolina and Oregon are both great schools. It's just the chance to play early and for a national championship next to my hometown.”

Lemieux's deletion from the commitment list leaves the Gamecocks with seven for the 2015 class and one offensive lineman in junior college transfer Paris Palmer.

Catch Phil Kornblut every night on SportsTalk and get more of his statewide recruiting news at SportsTalkSC.com and on Twitter @SportsTalkSC.

OL Branton Autry (6-4 320) of Coffeyville JC, KS is getting a lot of interest from USC these days and when he gets around to deciding on official visits he will take this summer and fall, he's confident the Gamecocks will get one.

Laurens DB Thomas Jones (6-3 200) is gaining momentum in recruiting circles. He recently was offered by North Carolina and Saturday he picked up an offer from USC while attending a junior day. He also has offers from Duke, Charlotte and Miami of Ohio and Clemson is showing some interest. He plans to go to Clemson for the spring game April 11th.

6-4 Jamall Gregory of Washington, DC made an official visit to USC over the weekend with his mother and he's now ready to make his college decision. Gregory said he plans to decide between the Gamecocks and Kansas State between now and Wednesday. He has not yet visited Kansas State.

Goose Creek DE Javon Kinlaw (6-7 265) has had USC at the top of his list since the Gamecocks were the first to offer him in August 2014. And he went to the Gamecocks' junior day Saturday thinking he might be ready to commit. But that didn't happen Saturday and Kinlaw say no commitment is coming from him anytime soon.

Conway WR Bryan Edwards (6-3 208) attended USC's junior day Saturday with the Gamecocks and Georgia at the top of his list and hoping to get some clarity about his recruiting. Apparently things became real clear to him on this visit because Edwards committed to the Gamecocks.